Ancient: Trebonianus Gallus

I added a few coins to my Roman Imperial collection this week. Most from the Crisis of the Third Century time period(AD 235-284). I needed this Emperor and I think this coin is one of the nicer ones in the lot.

Trebonianus Gallus AD 251-3
AR Antoninianus; Antioch Mint, 20mm/4.4 g
Obv: IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG, Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev: MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM, Mars advancing right, holding spear and shield
(RIC IV-3, 84)

"Gallus was born in Italy, in a family with respected ancestry of Etruscan senatorial background. He had two children in his marriage with Afinia Gemina Baebiana: Gaius Vibius Volusianus, later Emperor, and a daughter, Vibia Galla. His early career was a typical cursus honorum, with several appointments, both political and military. He was suffect consul and in 250 was nominated governor of the Roman province of Moesia Superior, an appointment that showed the confidence of Emperor Trajan Decius in him. In Moesia, Gallus was a key figure in repelling the frequent invasion attacks by the Gothic tribes of the Danube and became popular with the army, catered to during his brief Imperial rule by his official image: military haircut, gladiatorial physique, intimidating stance" Wikipedia cut and paste history.


Please post your coins with any Emperor from the 3d Century Crisis period.

 

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Very nice coin, much nicer than my Trebonianus Gallus.



Trebonianus Gallus, Antioch, AR Antoninianus. 2.8, 21mm

OBV: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG, Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.

REV: MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM, Mars advancing right, holding spear and shield.

REF: RIC IV-3, 84.

 

Very Nice, i like the obverse strong portrait

 

So he was bald short and bow-legged?

Sweet coin BTW, I love the reverse.

 

Nice, yours has a stronger portrait then mine.


Trebonianus Gallus (251 - 253 A.D.)
AR antoninianus
O: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: FELICITAS PVBLICA,Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopia.
Rome Mint
3.7g
22mm
RIC 34 Cohen 37

 

...a little on the hefty side, according to the statue.

 

The head did not belong to that statue, but was found separately and added to a headless body later.

Statues often come with the the heads broken off, and heads often come without bodies. The restorer (from long ago) who attempted to solve that problem with these two unrelated parts did not do a very good job. You can see the size of the head is wrong. It is far too small for that massive body.

 

That's a very interesting factoid. Now that you mention it, the head is obviously out of proportion.

 

a nice TG from RB....TG is on my list!

 

Can't compete with you Roman specialists in all the complete references. Just figured out that this has a "Libertas Publica" reverse, and was not present in the Trebonianus line-up yet..

 

I'll just point out that Gallus also has Provincials. Here are two from Viminacium year 12 and 13 but with very different obverse legends.

IMP C VIBIO TREBON GALLO AVG / PMS (PROVINCIA MOESIA SUPERIOR) COL (Colonia) VIM AN XII

IMP C GALLVS P FELIX AVG / PMS COL VIM AN XIII


These later Viminacium coins are harder to find in nice shape than the ones of Gordian and Philip. The condition sensitive among you may need to pay more.

The other one that is easy to find is the silver tetradrachm of Antioch. I do not have it.

 

=> the head is not the only thing on that statue that seems a wee bit out of proportion!?



Ummm, I also have a very humble Tbone-Gallus example to add to this thread ...



... oh, and that green crusty stuff on the reverse is non-active and hard, not fluffy and active (*phew*)

 

Ooo! Ooo! Is it his one pack?

 

Third Century Crisis? Well, it all started with the assassination of this guy by his own troops...

Severus Alexander (222-235 AD)
AR Denarius, 18mm, 2.27g, 12h; Rome mint: 228
Obv.: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
Rev.: P M TR P VII COS II P P, Pax running left, holding olive-branch and sceptre.
Reference: RIC IV(b) 80 (p. 76)

 

Valerian was defeated and captured by the Persians...

Valerian I of Alexandreia Troas
AE20; Alexandreia Troas
Obv.: IMP LIC VARERIANVS AV; laureate, draped, cuirassed bust r.
Rev.: COL AVG; grazing horse r. // TROA
Reference: SNG von Aulock 7573 var (ending of both legends)

 

Gallienus was left with a shaky control of the empire...

Gallienus, 253-268
AE Antoninianus, Rome mint, 268 AD
Obv.: GALLIENVS AVG; Radiate bust right
Rev.: P M TR P XVI COS VII; Emperor standing left, holding globe and sceptre
Reference: RIC V(a) Gallienus Sole Rule 156 (p. 144)
Notes: This is the last issue in the dated series of antoniniani.

 

I don't have any Gallic Empire coins except for this Claudius II Gothicus...

Claudius II Gothicus
AE Antoninianus, 20mm, 3.47g, 12h; Rome mint: 269-70
Obv.: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: GENIO EXERCI; Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae.
Reference: RIC 5a 48 (p. 215)



This would be a good place to post your coins of Postumus.

 

Aurelian went a long way to reunify the empire...

Aurelian, 214 or 215 - 275 AD
AE Antoninianus, 20mm, 3.5g, Siscia mint
Obv.: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG; radiate and draped bust right
Rev.: CONCORDIA MILI; Concordia standing half left, holding two standards / S
Reference: RIC V(a) Aurelian 193 (p. 286)

 

Diolcletian would eventually address many of the problems that instigated the crisis, and allow the Roman Empire to exist for another century. Note the interesting double strike on this coin, specifically collected for the error...

 

Great addition. One I still need; been looking at a few examples to get.